Walker found that he had managed to fall asleep sitting at the dining table. Midnight and Onyx were still asleep by the fire but there had been a change. The old master alchemist had moved to the dining table and was sifting through a small pouch of herbs. "You made it back and awake just in time for some tea. I made a new brew with some lemon grass and poppy seed." The old master alchemist had already gotten the hot water and was filling the tea bags.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes and stretching his sore back, Walker nodded his head yes. "I didn't mean to sleep down here but I guess I was more tired than I thought." Walker noticed that the plated he had made some food on was already taken away. He hoped that his mother hadn't been forced to clean up behind him.
"Have you seen Remey yet? She's been pretty excited to see you. Actually, I didn't see that fires of the lab going at all so maybe she just went to rest for a while. Anyways, I have a bunch of herbs you will find interesting. We should head over in a little bit and get things organized. It might make things a little easier." Walker wanted to lessen the blow Remey would drop on the old master alchemist because she had learned so much from the elves. Not to mention the alchemy fire skill and alchemy fire spirit that would be able to help with potion making.
"I thought you would. I'm sure I will have enough to keep me busy until the day I die…" There was a somber tone in the old master alchemist's voice.
"You might be old, but do you think you will die just like that? You have a whole new city and a whole new guild to see before then. And after those are in place Remey may never let you pass on." Walker laughed a little to reinforce the joke.
"Ha! You're right. I'm just letting my age show. I have an entire alchemy building to disband and change to fit the guild. I was thinking of putting one of my better apprentices in place as the head and have them change things as we build the guild in Genesis. I can also take a lot of the promising apprentices with me. Should make a fine first class." The old master alchemist was nodding approvingly as he spoke.
"You've really put some thought in to this huh? I didn't realize you had been planning this out while we were gone."
"I had to. I have the quest to do just that and I found one of my alchemists selling a high tier healing potion for double the price! It was sickening. The woman had been burned in the forge and needed help but this...Monster! Had the nerve to charge her double." Seeing the anger and disappointment written on his face Walker wanted to support the future alchemy guild even more.
"Let's take out tea with is to the alchemy lab. I'm sure Remey will make her way there in no time. I also have a demon who I showed to a room yesterday that wants to grow herbs. I will wake up Midnight and see if she can bring her here. She seems nice so far." Walker saw a little surprise from the old master alchemist.
"A demon that wants to grow, well, anything. That's really against stereotypes. I hope she is ready. I will bombard her with everything I know." There was an interest Walker could see in the old master alchemist. It wasn't the new herbs but the demon that wanted to grow them that caught his attention. This was another new occurrence that he would not have seen in his life that he wanted to see happen himself.
Midnight was not very happy to be woken up but when Walker promised her and Onyx some elemental crystals to snack on, he was able to get them moving. Walker and the old master alchemist headed to the alchemy lab but as soon as he was outside, the two found Gil's mother pulling some small weeds on the garden path.
"Oho, look who it is. The sleepy head at the dinner table. That was a good snack by the way." Walker had just found the person who had cleaned his mess but he was glad she had also gotten a meal out of it.
"Sorry for leaving the mess for you. It's actually perfect that you are here. I have someone that needs some guidance in growing plants and herbs. Midnight is getting her so I can introduce you two." Gil's mother looked pretty happy to hear she would have someone to teach. She had been hoping to take in an assistant for the garden lately.
"Oh, I didn't realize you had the alchemy lab extended." Walker found that the alchemy lab had been tripled in size.
"Well, we kept getting more herbs and such. I thought there would also be new equipment so I had things remodeled. Don't worry, I paid for it. But from what you are saying it looks like we will need a large greenhouse. Maybe we should expand again. I know a very good builder. We could make it out of stone with some fire elemental crystals in it to maintain warmth. Ah, but the soil might dry out…" The old master alchemist already had a problem with the plan.
"I have a solution for that. These are called water spikes. I got them from the forest elf city. They cause the water in the air to condense in the soil and continuously water plants." Walker handed the water spikes over to the amazement of the old master alchemist and Gil's mother.
"You haven't even taken the herbs out and whatever else and we are already impressed." Gils' mother was too amazed at this great solution.